Out of the (foul) mouths of babes...

meritaten

sacha - I think nearly every parent has been embarrassed by their child suddenly coming out with something they have overheard elsewhere. and you can sometimes be 'shocked into laughing'! and sometimes it is genuinely funny. I think the trick is not to overreact or punish.
I do try not to judge strangers children - its happened to me in crowded places and my kids were mostly well mannered and polite. But you just know with some kids it because the parents are effing and blinding - no wonder they think its normal language.

pigpen

meritaten wrote: »

rofl! jeez you have a very nicely brought up child there!!!

sometimes it IS however either you mishear or the child has got words muddled up.
My oldest grandson (now 17) flummoxed his mother when he was about 3, by waking her at stupid O'clock in the morning and asking 'Have you seen my bollox'? groggily, she told him that actually they are called Testicles and we don't use that word for them. He looked at her a little puzzled, then asked very quietly 'Mum have you seen the bollox for my gun'? he meant the foam pellets it fired! even HE knew mum was using the wrong word!

LOL.. my 2 year old has a couple.. she eats with a spoon and a f*** ... and even worse she started shouting 'black c***' (the very rude one!!!) took us ages to work out she was trying to say black currant .. we were so pleased when she started saying it properly!!!

Kaye1

Yes, we had the same problem- our toddler loved her soft toy fox- yes, you can guess what it sounded like when she was looking for him......!

meritaten

my granddaughter loved the Cbbc program 'Big Cook, Little Cook', unfortunately when she said it (aged 2), Cook rhymed with Sock! and as she used to sing the theme tune everywhere she went ..............Two very embarrassed parents! and one big brother who thought it hysterically funny!
(so did I)

dinglefoot

Pyxis wrote: »

The trouble is this, ^^^^^^^ I'm afraid.

If it's the norm for adults, then sadly, it will become the norm for children.

To some extent. When I was a child I heard my parents swear in moments of surprise, anger, shock or pain and they told me not to repeat them. I didn't swear until I was 16, when I met my husband, who unfortunately was a bad influence on me in that respect

Although I mentioned earlier that I do swear in the office/at home where it is currently the norm, I don't swear if I'm in public or around relatives etc. While it isn't necessarily good that swearing has become the norm in some environments, it isn't the whole picture. As adults we have a responsibility to not swear in front of children and, if we do by mistake, to educate them that it is wrong. Please forgive me if you disagree, but I'm of the opinion that if people are casually swearing in front of their children, allowing them to pick it up and not disciplining their child when they do swear, then they are most likely lacking in responsibility and allowing their child to swear is probably not their only failing as a parent.

SingleSue

My youngest son (almost 18), thinks swearing is a waste of the English language and sees no point in doing it.

Middle son on turning 18 asked if it was ok to say bloody.

Eldest son will swear with friends but knows that it is not acceptable in front of me or his grandparents (or of course, at a place of work).

The very naughty c word is one that is never ever acceptable to me, although I have been known to say the naughty f word from time to time...usually when catching my funny bone or my little toe on something, again.

melanzana

I think it is hilarious in babes. They hear it, and say it and do not understand the real meaning. It's learning language.

OK you may say to me that "my kids never, or whatever" but outside forces are beyond your control. And some kids get the message that it is not right, so push the boundaries.

Some kids just say it as babes.

I wouldn't worry. Don't react and change the subject. Sorted mostly.

Gloomendoom

Guest101 wrote: »

Lets be fair, swearing isn't illegal

It can get you arrested though...

You could be arrested for swearing in the street. There are various offences which can be committed involving the use of threatening abusive words or behaviour. The effect on others and the intention of the person swearing would be some of the factors to consider when deciding whether or not an offence had been committed.

There is also an offence of using obscene and profane language in the street to the annoyance of residents. However, a person is only likely to be arrested for this offence if the behaviour occurs in the presence of a police officer.

Source

thriftyemma

My son came home from school one day, aged around 6. He said he'd learned a naughty word. It was the 's' word, he told me. Getting myself ready to give him a stern talk, I asked him, just this once, to tell me the word. "swear" he whispered in my ear. I could barely contain my laughter as I tried to explain. Bless him, he's pretty innocent, even 2 years later. I hope he stays that way Although he has started saying "damn" in stressful situations...

Pyxis

bossymoo wrote: »

Really dislike swearing. Very occasionally (banging funny bone? - why do they call it that?) a /I]"

because part of the elbow joint is the Humerus bone. Play on words......Humerus/humorous!